UK regulator joins Australian counterpart in condemning ‘disturbing’ allegations involving contestants with drug and violence convictions

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has said allegations that contestants on Married at First Sight Australia were not aware of their partner’s previous convictions are “serious and disturbing”.

UK regulator Ofcom added that it also found reports that male contestants with drug and violence convictions took part in the Australian show without their partners’ knowledge were “deeply concerning”.

MAFS was created in Denmark

The claims emerged in a BBC investigation over the weekend and are the latest allegations to hit MAFS, whose UK version was pulled by Channel 4 last month after the BBC’s Panorama reported rape allegations from two female contestants. The men involved deny the accusations.

MAFS Australia airs on Channel 9 and is produced by Endemol Shine Australia. It is based on the Seven.One Studios format created by Denmark’s Snowman Productions, with the Australian version becoming popular around the world and available on demand via Channel 4 in the UK.

Nine and Endemol Shine Australia said in a statement that they “have strong protocols in place to ensure participant safety and wellbeing.”

It continued: “There is a structured, multi-stage checking process that every participant must complete and clear. This includes police and criminal history checks in each declared country of residence, independent clinical psychological assessment, medical screening, disclosure supported by a statutory declaration, and legal and digital due diligence. The support for participants is continually evolving and each season we reassess this framework.”

The ACMA told the BBC: “When members of the public raise concerns with the ACMA that fall outside of our regulatory remit we encourage them to bring those concerns to the broadcaster and, where appropriate, to the relevant authority.”

C4 has removed all MAFS UK shows but the Australian version is currently available. The broadcaster’s chief exec, Priya Dogra, has already ordered an external review into the show, which is produced in the UK by CPL Productions.

Following news of the Australian allegations, Ofcom told the BBC: “These latest allegations are deeply concerning and we would expect Channel 4 to take account of them in its ongoing reviews into contributor care.

“We await its findings, which we will consider alongside all other evidence made available to us.”

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